The three women llhaesa chatted with moments before were now seated cross legged right in front of where the band was set up to play. M’traliel would reluctantly handle guitar, llhaesa of course on keyboard, and the three students were set to respectively play electric guitar, a violin like instrument, and a flute. Jahrae was now stationed on the mixing panel, hoping against all hope she remembered the things llhaesa had been teaching her.

By the time they tuned and were ready to go, llhaesa had downloaded the scripted music into each of the electronic tablets the musicians would use for each song. Before starting a new song, llhaesa would transmit the next choice for them to follow.

There were now 300 people curiously gathered, and more were walking in towards the band area, so word was getting out.

Llhaesa turned toward each band member in turn, checking on their readiness. She looked out toward Jahrae, folded her left hand into a fist with index finger extended, raised and turned it forward toward Jahrae, indicating ‘ready to go.’

Llhaesa did not intend to do very many slow tempo songs, but she would decide on the fly. Raising her right arm high enough for all to see, she moved it downward and upward three times in succession, and the band started in with an explosion of sound.

The musician’s were actually tasked to improvise. All were N’rellia; there was no question of ability with any of them. Llhaesa had written the music with a fluid midsection, where one could step forward and take the lead, show their stuff. For her part, for now llhaesa wished to just hold the tempo, let the others have their chance to shine.

There was one thing M’traliel flat out refused to do, and that was sing. Possessor of a good voice, she simply did not relish being that far into the limelight. With her guitar – as she got into the song – that was different. Llhaesa was handling vocals, and now M’traliel took a few steps to close the distance between the two, and began to play get into picking at individual strings and changing chords rapidly.

After a few minutes, M’traliel wandered back into the rhythm of the song, and the band brought it to a conclusion.

The crowd stood and cheered as the band bowed, llhaesa calling out as she pointed towards her friend: “M’traliel Zralensa!”

Llhaesa turned back toward the crowd and saw that it was now well over a thousand. Looking further outward, there were streams of people filtering in. Police officers were now on the scene, silently watching the crowd, trying to be helpful in maintaining order.

Once again a signal from llhaesa, and this time she slowly and passionately sang without accompaniment. After the first verse of lyrics, the band kicked in and played full force, with the second verse of lyric now reset to the up tempo. None of the other three chose to improvise and show their stuff, and so llhaesa let the song move through as written, closing with a quick keyboard flurry.

As the crowd cheered and was acknowledged by the band, llhaesa rose and walked over to the 3 students. She was playing mentor now. “The three of you wished to play, and I know you can play superbly. Take a turn in showing your stuff. I don’t care which of you goes first, or whatever, but show off your talent, the crowd will love it – and so will I – because I’d like to see what you can do as well.”

Over the next several songs, the students took multiple turns at stepping into the limelight and showing their skill. Each received thunderous applause as their particular song ended.

The crowd now fully occupied the park, and the streets adjacent to where the band was playing. If she had to guess, llhaesa estimated there were 20,000 listening, which was amazing considering their ‘stage’ consisted of a slightly uplifted knoll on the park lawn.

The band was now fully into playing, and they continued the pattern of M’traliel and the 3 students improvising. Finally, llhaesa decided it was time for her to let go, and so on the next song she began to move with lightning quick hands working the keyboard, kicked away the small seat she had brought along, and used the keyboard to tie into the emotions of the crowd. The band segued into the next song with no break in between, and now llhaesa was really ready to let loose, this time with her patented physical moves.

She played back to keyboard; she used her elbows and ended by reaching up with her right foot to strike the last note.

The crowd loved it, the applause rained down for minutes before llhaesa moved to speak. She did not intend to delve into politics, but one look at M’traliel and she knew her friend was encouraging llhaesa to go for it.

And so llhaesa morphed from musician to activist. This time though, there was more, for it was personal, a continuation of where she had gone with the three women before the concert.

“Thank you for your wonderful show of support!” llhaesa began. “I’d like to take a few moments to talk on where we are going as a society if I may.

We are being taken on a wayward path, away from Arrhazonan ideals. Surely we still had work to do on rights for women, and I remain fully committed to that cause. In the moment, there are indications Brellian wishes to roll back time, back through centuries of peace and of democracy, back to dark days of bloodshed and tyranny.

In my advocacy, I’ve encouraged all of you to be involved, to work for change, to insist upon change, for full equality. And I continue to encourage you towards these things.

Yet there are changes I personally need to make, things I’ve needed to acknowledge. Many of you – a great many of you – political observers, those in EREGS and other similar groups have been advocating for me to express my intent to formally lead those who wish to bring Arrhazon to a better place.

Until a day or two ago, it was my choice to not accept that great honour – I’m but a simple musician – and to just speak my mind. I realise now that my voice might ring hollow if I leave some of my effort, some of my ability, upon a table, unused.

No longer will I walk away if others think me capable. No longer will I advocate and think that is all I need do. No longer will I run from what is admittedly a very scary thought – leading Arrhazon to a better place.

We have to start somewhere, and it starts now. In a few days, I’ll be playing at Nenseru Woods, and all of you are invited. Go to the athenaeum; search out ‘Nenseru Woods’ concert,’ and the concert details will be there.

Thanks for listening, and let’s get back to music!” llhaesa was the one most ready for a return to playing, the crowd was clamouring for more of her words. They loved what they had just heard, and now it was their turn to speak. “T’yaeli! T’yaeli! T’yaeli” chant started to spread throughout the crowd, until everyone there had created a new song with a highly addictive rhythm.

Llhaesa looked over to M’traliel who was laughing, and out to Jahrae who was… chanting with the crowd. Llhaesa stepped forward and bowed, then blew the crowd a kiss, followed by silently mouthing ‘thank you!’ She walked over to the student with the electric guitar, asked if he could play keyboards, and upon receiving an affirmative answer, they swapped.

What followed left yet another concert crowd stunned and wild, for they had just witnessed a fully engaged and in her prime llhaesa t’yaeli, who now by virtue of demonstrated achievement was rapidly becoming the most talented musician in the history of Arrhazon.